2211 - Lies and greed corrupted Judah’s leaders, much to Jeremiah’s dismay. He wept when they believed false promises of peace and rejected God’s justice, righteousness, and truth.

2210 - Idolatry was rampant, so the God of Israel promised destruction for the people of Judah who were living in sin. Jeremiah sounded the alarm, but no one listened. Likewise, many of those living around us today refuse to admit their sin or turn to the Lord.

2209 - The Babylonian war machine was coming to Judah. The Lord chose a young Jeremiah to be His prophet and to deliver the call to return to the ways and values specified in God’s Word. Their culture, like ours, veered off the path and was about to reap the consequences.

2024 - Under the Mount of Olives, Jeff visits the tombs of the prophets Zechariah, Malachi, and Haggai. The prophet Isaiah looked to a reunited Israel’s ultimate King, who is called “Mighty God” and “Prince of Peace.” This is the Lord Yeshua, who will return to rule and reign from David’s throne.

2023 - King Josiah rediscovered God’s Word and took it seriously. Oh, that our leaders would do the same! Poor leadership leads to bad consequences. Josiah’s son Zedekiah rebelled against the Lord, paving Judah’s road to ruin.

2022 - Good King Hezekiah did not depart from following God and His commandments. Faithfulness pays dividends! Unfortunately, Hezekiah’s son Manasseh brought Judah horror and bloodshed for the five decades of his rule.

2021 - Young leaders need wisdom and guidance from advisers who are tethered to God’s Word. As time went by, King Joash’s zeal for the Lord faded as he became prideful. King Uzziah was a young man when he ascended the throne, but he became so obsessed with power, the Lord smote him with leprosy.

2020 - Even though King Jeroboam II was evil, he was praised for securing Israel’s border. Leaders should be trustworthy, not bloodthirsty. Israel’s King Hoshea reaped what he sowed and, unfortunately, so did Israel at the hands of the Assyrians.

2019 - Illustrating how bad people can come to power in misguided ways, Omri seized the throne of Israel by mutiny. Deterioration continued when his heir Ahab (the worst king ever) not only turned away from God but actively opposed Him.

2018 - Solomon, the wisest man, made foolish mistakes by letting in outside influences and allowing his heart to drift away from the Lord. His son Rehoboam drifted much farther. His oppressive policies caused Jeroboam to lead 10 of the 12 tribes in rebellion, creating the northern Kingdom of Israel. The two tribes that remained — Judah and Benjamin — formed the southern Kingdom of Judah.